One United - JCBA implementation framework

Date:
August 27, 2016
Type:
AFA Article

Now that Flight Attendants have voted to ratify a Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement (JCBA) we are beginning the work needed to implement the new contract and finally bring all United Flight Attendants together into a single team. AFA and United will work closely on the JCBA implementation, and we will keep you informed as we do so.

The implementation will be overseen by a Joint Implementation Team (JIT) composed of three AFA members and three company members, who will be supported by subject matter experts from AFA and United.

To make sure everyone is as prepared as possible, we will send you advance notification before implementing specific provisions of the JCBA. This is the first in a series of communications about the implementation of the new JCBA.

Implementation framework

We will implement the new contract in phases:

1. Date of Signing (DOS)

Contract provisions being implemented as of the “Date of Signing” will include adopting new pay rates and most pay factors and overrides. We will also implement provisions from the new contract for those policies and business processes that are simpler to execute and don’t require technology enhancements. These “Date of Signing” changes, which are listed below, will go into effect with the first day of the September bid month.

2. Date of Signing Plus (DOS+)

Some provisions in the JCBA are a bit more complex, requiring moderate technology enhancements and more involved business processes. The Joint Implementation Team will prioritize these DOS+ items after taking into account United’s business needs, Flight Attendant priorities and the degree of complexity involved in implementing the various provisions.

3. Common Crew Management System (CMS)

Finally, the third phase of implementation will consist of the JCBA provisions that involve the most complex technology enhancements. All of these provisions are tied to migrating to a common Crew Management System, which will allow for all Flight Attendants to be scheduled as a single workforce.

Date of Signing changes going into effect

Listed below are the Date of Signing changes that will be effective with the start of the September bid month (August 29 for S-CO and CMI Flight Attendants, August 30 for S-UA Flight Attendants).

Contract Section

Item

Description of change

1

Recognition, Scope, Successorship and Mergers

Entire section in effect

3.C.2

Seniority accrual and company business assignment

See provision in JCBA

3.T.

Parking

Rate change from $30 to $35 for S-CO, CMI
Rate change from $25 to $35 for S-UA

3.V.5.

Passports/Global Entry

a. The Company shall bear the cost of any necessary passports, passport renewals, additional passport pages, visas, work permits required to be based/domiciled at that location, residency and the government’s expedited renewal fee. The Company shall also bear the costs for all necessary photos associated with obtaining the aforementioned documents; b. The Company shall reimburse Flight Attendants for the governmental fees associated with the Global Entry (U.S. Customs Border Protection) program or successor program

4.A

Base pay rates

See table in JCBA

4.B.1.

Incentive pay rates

No change for S-CO. S-UA and CMI Flight Attendants will have incentive calculated and paid for September for hours above 66:40 to 110:00. JCBA rules effective beginning in October for all Flight Attendants.

4.B.2.

White Flag

See table in JCBA

4.G.4

Galley Pay

Harmonizing rates; paid based on existing definitions

4.I

Holiday Pay

Effective with DOS, but paid once programming is complete in 2nd quarter 2017

4.E. and 7.S.7.d.

Drafting pay

Rate change from 2.5 hours pay to 3 hours pay for S-UA

4.F.

Drug/Alcohol Testing pay

Rate change from $20 to $25 for S-CO, CMI
Change from 15 minutes pay to $25 for S-UA

4.J.

International Override

Harmonizing rates; paid based on existing definitions of international

4.K.

Language (LQ) pay

Rate change from $3.00/$5.00 to $2.50 per hour for CMI. Rate change from $1.54 to $2.50 per hour for S-UA. No change for S-CO.

4.M.

Night pay

Rate change from $0.35 to $0.50 per hour for S-UA. No change for S-CO and CMI.

5.A.

Per Diem

Rate change from $1.95-D/$2.50-I to $2.20-D/$2.70-I for s-CO, CMI and s-UA

5.B.1.

Lodging - day rooms

The Company shall furnish comfortable and adequate single occupancy hotel rooms in a suitable location for Flight Attendants as selected in accordance with the provisions of paragraph B.2, below, when: a. They are scheduled at a layover station in excess of four (4) hours; b. They are delayed at a layover station for four (4) hours or more from the time delay is known; or after reporting for duty at the home domicile there is a delay for four (4) or more hours from the time the delay is known; c. In accordance with Section 28.E.5.

5.B.5.

Lodging - self help

If a Flight Attendant arrives at a layover hotel and her/his room is not ready within thirty (30) minutes after arrival, she/he may obtain other accommodations and claim reasonable actual lodging expenses on a Company expense form supported by the hotel receipt

5.D.2.

Transportation - $10 cab allowance

A Flight Attendant will be allowed Ten Dollars ($10.00) for cab or limousine between airport or co-terminal and place of lodging at Domicile points whenever departure time of her/his flight assignment is between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. or when arrival time of the flight is between 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.

5.D.4.a

Co-terminal transportation within pairing

In the event a Flight Attendant’s pairing originates at one airport and terminates at another airport at her/his regular home Domicile, the Company shall furnish such Flight Attendant with transportation one-way between one airport and the other, at her/his option. A Flight Attendant assigned to a schedule involving this type of operation shall advise the Company prior to the start of the schedule, the one direction she/he desires such transportation during the period she/he is assigned to that schedule. When such transportation is requested at origination, limousine departure times will be in accordance with crosstown travel times as provided in Section 6.S.4.

6.Q.3.

Whereabouts on days off

A Flight Attendant shall not be required to keep the Company advised of her/his whereabouts on days off unless an emergency is declared by the Company.

7.V.

Signing in for next flight

1. At the home domicile, a Flight Attendant shall not be required to sign in or call in for her/his next pairing. 2. Away from the home domicile, a Flight Attendant need not call in for her/his next scheduled flight unless she/he has not been assigned an outbound flight.

8.O.10.

Passport qualification

Reserve Flight Attendants are required to carry their passports during any pairing/Standby Reserve assignment.

9.G.2.a

Language Training

The Company shall make language training available through a program approved by the Company. Flight Attendants must obtain pre-approval from the Company in order to attend the language training program.

10.B.1

AMC Pay Rate

AMC override increases to $4.00. Rate change only

11.B, 11.C

Training

Harmonizing rate of pay, subject to be paid retroactively in 4th quarter if programming is not complete sooner, and per diem effective DOS;

12.A.2

Vacation accrual seniority

See provision in JCBA; increased accrual rates are in effect for sCO and CMI Flight Attendants for remaining 2017 vacation accrual periods (September through December 2016) and for all Flight Attendant’s 2018 Vacation accrual period (September 2016 – August 2017)

12.B.1

Vacation Pay

Harmonizing daily rate effective DOS; subject to be paid retroactively in 4th quarter if programming is not complete sooner

12.L.

Vacation pay upon termination

See provision in JCBA

13.D.7.

Kin care policy

If a Flight Attendant’s spouse or minor child is injured or becomes ill so that the Flight Attendant is unable to report for work, she/he will be allowed to use sick time for up to three consecutive days, or the duration of the pairing, whichever is greater. The absence will be treated the same as the Flight Attendant’s sick time, and will count for attendance/disciplinary purposes. This is available for use once per calendar year.

13.F

Workman’s Comp - governance rules

See provision in JCBA

14

Seniority

Entire section in effect in JCBA

15.E.1, 15.E.2, 15.E.3

Medical Leave Duration

Effective for new leaves on or after DOS; for existing leaves company will communicate transition information within 30 days of DOS

15.F.1

Maternity Leave Duration

Effective for new leaves on or after DOS; for existing leaves company will communicate transition information within 30 days of DOS

15.G.1

Parental Leave Duration

Effective for new leaves on or after DOS; for existing leaves company will communicate transition information within 30 days of DOS

15.H.1

Adoption Leave Duration

Effective for new leaves on or after DOS; for existing leaves company will communicate transition information within 30 days of DOS

15.I.5.b

FML

Unless a Flight Attendant has applied for FML for an absence, the Company shall not designate that absence as FML.

15.J.1., 15.J.2.

Military Leave

Effective for new leaves on or after DOS; for existing leaves company will communicate transition information within 30 days of DOS

15.K

Bereavement Duration

Effective for new leaves on or after DOS

15.L

Union Leave

Effective for new leaves on or after DOS

15.M

Jury Duty/Court Witness

Effective for new leaves on or after DOS

15.N

Leaves of Absence

Harmonizing Leave Durations

17.G

Moving provisions

See provision in JCBA

17.H

Settling time and monthly guarantee

See provision in JCBA

18

Reduction in personnel

Entire section in effect in JCBA

19

Safety, Health and Security

Entire section in effect in JCBA

20

Medical Examinations

Entire section in effect in JCBA for all new Medical Examinations

21

Alcohol and drug testing

Entire section in effect in JCBA

26

Moving expenses

Entire section in effect in JCBA

27

Missing, Interned, Hostage or POW

Entire section in effect in JCBA

29.F

Retiree Medical

See provision in JCBA

29.I.1.

401K Contributions

See provision in JCBA

30.G

Release for Union business

The Company shall honor all requests of the Union for release of Flight Attendants for Union business consistent with the needs of the service. If a Union release will cause a Reserve to be unable to be assigned on her/his other days during that block of days of availability, the Reserve will be placed on Union release for the day(s) requested and for all other days in her/his reserve block.If the Reserve (i) is available for assignment on the availability days preceding/following the requested Union release and (ii) there is a trip operating on those days to which she/he could be assigned, (whether actually assigned or not), the Union may request to have the non-requested released days converted back to reserve availability days. Union releases may be made up in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.S. at any time in the two (2) subsequent schedule months.